Background
North Bridgewater was one of three Bridgewaters to evolve from a native grant of land to Myles Standish in Plymouth County, Mass. In the years after it separated from Bridegwater in 1821, North Bridgewater emerged as a center of manufacturing. During the industrial boom years of the mid-nineteenth century, it grew into the largest producer of shoes and boots in the nation, boasting 97 factories by the end of the century. In 1874, the town changed to its current name, Brockton, and it was incorporated as a city seven years later.
Scope of collection
Nearly two thirds of this town treasurer's account book from North Bridgewater (later Brockton), Massachusetts, is devoted to a monthly accounting of support payments to the families of Civil War volunteers, April 1861 through 1881. Also included are nearly 50 pages of accounts of school expenses in each of the town's school districts between 1858 and 1869 (teacher salaries, supplies, and accounts with textbook publishers such as Harper & Bros. and Heath & Co.) and salaries for town officials, including Superintendent of Streets, Overseer of the Poor, city clerk, city treasurer, and the Police Department. The treasurer for much of this period was Rufus P. Kingman (1821-1894).
Administrative information
Search terms
Subjects
- North Bridgewater (Mass.). Treasurer
- Police--Massachusetts--North Bridgewater
- Schools--Massachusetts--North Bridgewater
- Teachers--Massachusetts--North Bridgewater
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Contributors
- North Bridgewater (Mass.). Treasurer [main entry]
- North Bridgewater (Mass.). Treasurer
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